Bravo to bow be-dazzled baby Alexander for winning Photo Friday: SMILE!

This week our theme is BUDDING ARTISTS. We’re looking for photos of your wee one crafting her or his heart out: Painting, colouring, stickers, finger painting and more.

The prize this week is a custom whimsical wooden plaque from Debbi of Freckle Farm Creations. A fellow north Durham Boonies resident, Debbi started her budding business while on maternity leave with her first son. She makes the most adorable hand-painted signs, chairs, coat racks and more for children of all ages. Check her out on Facebook to see more.

Entries due Thursday — click here to enter!Alice, 15 months, has just started colouring:

And Lucy, well, we craft every. single. day:

Oh, what joy this week watching all these come in. There is nothing sweeter or more innocent in the world that a wee one’s smile. Enjoy, and vote for your favourite below!

The winner receives a custom Over the Top Hat from Wild About Beads.

• Click read the rest of this entry (or scroll to the bottom of photos) to cast your ballot and see results
• One vote per IP address (NOT email address), so have your family and friends cast a ballot (from home if you send it to coworkers): Email, Facebook and Twitter away!
• Winner announced Monday
• Click here for details on, and to enter, our weekly contests. Next week: BUDDING ARTISTS!

Read the rest of this entry »

Eric: It says a lot about your life right now that your racy underwear got washed with a load of bibs, towels and napkins. And has been sitting on the fireplace hearth for three days.

Carly: Oh, shut up. It’s the new interior decorating style of the working mother.

Last week a few friends were exchanging one of those list, get-to-know-your-friends emails. One of the questions was, “What are you afraid of?”

Almost all of us answered something about our kids being kidnapped or dying.

______________

Lucy is away from me three days a week at daycare, generally from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

She occasionally stays over night with family members.

I’ve yet to drop her off at a party or playgroup, although I sense that is coming — more from other parents as opposed to her wanting me to leave.

At just about four, I have very high-level conversations with her about safety. Not, like, road safety, or holding hands etc. But those dark safety topics.

Like strangers. And inappropriate touching.

__________

I can’t scare the poor thing. She has just come out of her shell the past six months, and the last thing I want to do is send her back in, traumatize her, or make her fearful of the world.

On the other hand, that education has to start somewhere at sometime, doesn’t it?

I try to bring it up nonchalantly, when it’s in context.

Like last night. Lucy has had three nights of dry pull-ups (!!!) and we were talking about the potty, peeing, how big girls wear underwear to bed, and baginas.

“But no one touches you there at school or anywhere else, right, Goosey?”

“Nope, Mumma. Juuuust me!” Then she skipped across the room to turn off her light.

*whew* Operation Scary Detail Soliciting a success.

We’ve talked a bit about only talking to people when Mumma or Daddy are with her. No matter who it is — friendly neighbours, family, daycare providers (except when AT daycare, of course). Gently. See: not scaring, above.

This weekend I want to teach her what 911 on the phone means, and when/how to use it.

_________

Thoughts? How do those with older kids — especially those in school — deal with this? How do you (or plan to) bring it up? Does 4 seem like an appropriate age to start all of this?

After a (too long, according to some of you!) hiatus, Photo Friday is back!

This Friday is the first contest of 2010, with the theme SMILE! Had to bring them back on an oh-so happy note. Have fun picking just one to enter!

This week’s prize is a custom Over the Top hat from Wild About Beads. Nikki just launched these outrageously stylish chapeaus, and they are just beyond adorable!

(She’ll make a special one if you have a boy, don’t worry.)

Click here to enter your photo.

Click here for more details on our weekly photo contest (page is being updated…please bear with me).

Entries due Thursday, February 5, 2010. Voting begins Friday!

Since I can’t enter myself, I must share two of my most recent favourite smile pics of the girls:

Lucy playing outside late last year

Glee! At Alice's first birthday

Lucy is colouring her birthday party invitations.

Alice is sitting on the floor at her feet playing with circus Lego.

Spencer is snoring on the couch.

There are blueberry oatmeal muffins in the oven.

I just did a sink of dishes.

And unloaded the dishwasher.

While sipping a hot cup of Empress tea (I love you, Pat!).

I’m dressed in a pink cardigan and polo shirt.

(No slacks, though. Or pearls.)

I feel like a Stepford Wife.

Or maybe June Cleaver.

At least for a few minutes.

Because now

Alice is at my knee.

And she has let loose the mother of all poops.

(The leaky kind, judging by the circle of wet on the back of her thigh.)

Lucy is screeching because her ponytail is blue and not pink.

Spencer is barking at the melting snowman in the backyard.

And my muffins fell when they came out of the oven.

Bliss.

For a moment.

Lucy, I think we need a name for us, for when it’s just us spending time together.

Yah. Because me and Mumma and Alice are the three toots.

What do you think about calling you and Daddy the two bums?

No. How about the two baginas?

Oh. I don’t have a bagina, so I can’t be in that club.

Wow. There’s a lotta love for cupcakes around here! We had 39 comments for Disney Playhouse LIVE! tickets, and 37 for a half dozen of Siobhan’s delicious creations — that says a lot, hmmm? That we all love CAKE!

The winner of yesterday’s review and giveaway receives their choice between flowers and Valentine’s Day creations. Siobhan, you MUST send me photos of those beauties.

On January 21st, 2010 at 12:40 pm, Leslie said:

Have you ever tasted something that quite literally makes your eyes close and roll up behind the lids? A piece of food that the mere thought of makes your mouth water?

I’m not a big cake eater. But Siobhan’s cupcakes did this for my entire family.

Look at these lovelies:

Moist, airy, not-too-sweet. Siobhan makes this to-die-for buttercream frosting, and homemade fondant, which she molds into the shapes you see. This winter she also started baking mini cakes to the detriment of waistlines everywhere. But the tastebuds are going nutty with flavours like classic vanilla and chocolate, and spiced apple and walnut for the more adventurous.

She lives in Ajax with her two sons and hubby, works a day job, then bakes. She’s a rockstar. If you ever need some special treats for a birthday, wedding, or party of any sort, think of her, and check out her website at For the Love of Cupcakes (you should pop over there just to see the gallery of deliciousness. There are sheep cupcakes, people. Sheep!).

Because we need to share the love of cupcakes at Durham Region Baby, I have a half dozen Valentine’s or floral ones to give away to a lucky reader. Check out Siobhan’s site and leave a comment with your favourite creation. We’ll pick a winner tomorrow.

Happy drooling!